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12th out of 43 books
—
18 voters
The X in Sex: How the X Chromosome Controls Our Lives
A tiny scrap of genetic information determines our sex; it also consigns many of us to a life of disease, directs or disrupts the everyday working of our bodies, and forces women to live as genetic chimeras. The culprit--so necessary and yet the source of such upheaval--is the X chromosome, and this is its story. An enlightening and entertaining tour of the cultural and na...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
March 31st 2003
by Harvard University Press
(first published 2003)
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First off, The X in Sex is a very accessible non-fiction book about the genetics that make us who we are sexually. It was interesting to the non-scientist and a very quick read. But I do have to say that I didn't learn nearly enough new material to make me feel like it had been absolutely worth my time. David Bainbridge acts like he's bestowing never-before-mentioned news when he talks about X and Y chromosomes and sex-linked diseases. I'm 41 years old...back in the dark ages when I was in 9th g...more
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Once again, it was chosen merely because it's title began (excluding the word "The") with a letter I needed for my alphabet reading challenge. X is a tough one. But this was actually pretty good!
The first chapter is awful, though. If you get this book, just skip right ahead to the second chapter. The first chapter is mainly the author trying to explain why he chose to study the X chromosome rather than the Y, and why the Y is just a shriveled withered thi...more
The first chapter is awful, though. If you get this book, just skip right ahead to the second chapter. The first chapter is mainly the author trying to explain why he chose to study the X chromosome rather than the Y, and why the Y is just a shriveled withered thi...more
Apr 11, 2010
Sarah Sammis
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-in-2009,
challenge
The X in Sex: How the X Chromosome Controls Our Lives by David Bainbridge begins with the discovery of the X chromosome (by a man) and the Y chromosome (by a woman). From there it moves onto a variety of topics: the genes that control gonad growth, sex linked diseases and how human women are like calico cats.
David Bainbridge spends about a third of the book outlining many of the different ways that animals reproduce and how gender is selected. Although the XY (male) and XX (female) is the standa...more
David Bainbridge spends about a third of the book outlining many of the different ways that animals reproduce and how gender is selected. Although the XY (male) and XX (female) is the standa...more
This book is very interesting if you are in to science. It provides a story about the history of the X chromosome and how we discovered what it does. The analogies used make it easy to understand and delightful to read. I gave it three stars because it is not for everyone.
So many interesting ideas -- i just wish it had been longer. Definitely will be doing further reading on this subject, especially as identical twin girls (which I have) are differently affected by x-inactivation.
Interesting enough. Reading this put me back in the genetics class I took in college, where I swore before I had children I'd do a complete genetic evaluation with my future spouse. Fast-forward a bazillion years, and while reading excerpts of this to my high-school aged son, he says: "I'm going to do that test before I have kids." I guess that gene didn't skip a generation.
If genetics interests you, this book will, too.
If genetics interests you, this book will, too.
Despite the racy title and cover, this book really is a history of the X Chromosome. It mostly covers the X Chromosome in humans, but contrasts it with a lot of other species. The book also gives cogent descriptions of several chromosome abnormalities. It's also a short and easy read -- always a plus!
It was okay, the information was pretty clear through some simple analogies but some 'technical terminologies' made some parts of this book quite hard to chew.
Jan 27, 2013
Erin Heard
marked it as to-read
Jan 08, 2013
Amy Sue
marked it as to-read
Dec 26, 2012
Sara
marked it as to-read
Dec 23, 2012
Dane
marked it as to-read
Nov 05, 2012
Tanna
marked it as to-read
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